Physics 102: Lecture 04

Capacitors!
• Today’s lecture will cover Textbook
Sections 17.5-6, 18.1-2, 6

Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 1

 Capacitance: The ability to store
separated charge C=Q/V
Charge Q on plates Charge 2Q on plates
V = VA – VB = +E0 d V = VA – VB =

+ E=E0 - + E= -
+ -
+ - + -
+ -
+A - + -
B +A B -
+ - + -
+ -
+ - + -
+ -
d d

Potential difference is proportional to charge: Double Q  Double V

Q = CV
Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 2
 Capacitor
• Any pair conductors separated by a small
distance. (e.g. two metal plates)
• Capacitor stores separated charge Q=CV
– Positive Q on one conductor, negative Q on other
– Net charge is zero + -

• Stores Energy U =(½) Q V +

E
-
+ -
+ -
+ -
d

Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 3

 Capacitance Practice
How much charge is on a 0.9 F capacitor which
has a potential difference of 200 Volts?
Q=
Units?
How much energy is stored in this capacitor?
U=
Units?
Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 4
 Capacitance of
Parallel Plate Capacitor
V = Ed AND E = Q/(e0A) V
(Between two large plates)
So: V =
+E
Recall: CQ/V A -A
So: C =
(For parallel plate capacitor)
d
If insert dielectric (κ>1) between
plates C = κ C0
Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 5
e0=1/(4pk)=8.85x10-12 C2/Nm2
 Parallel Plate Capacitor
C = e0A/d
Calculate the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor made
from two large square metal sheets 1.3 m on a side,
separated by 0.1 m.

C=
A A

Units?
d
ε0 = 8.85x10-12 C2/(Nm2)
Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 6
 Dielectric

• Placing a dielectric
between the plates
increases the capacitance.
Dielectric
constant (k > 1)

C = k C0 Capacitance
without dielectric

Capacitance with
dielectric

Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 7

 ACT: Parallel Plates
- +
-q +q
- +
d +
pull - pull
- +

A parallel plate capacitor is given a charge q. The plates are then

pulled a small distance further apart. What happens to the charge q
on each plate of the capacitor?

1) Increases 2) Constant 3) Decreases

Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 8

 - +
-q +q
- +
Preflight 4.1 pull - d + pull
- +
A parallel plate capacitor is given a charge q. The plates are then
pulled a small distance further apart. Which of the following apply to
the situation after the plates have been moved?

1)The capacitance increases True

False

2)The electric field increases True False

3)The voltage between the plates increases True False

4)The energy stored in the capacitor increases True False

Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 9
 Preflight 4.2
Two identical parallel plate capacitors are shown in end-
view in A) of the figure. Each has a capacitance of C.

A) B)

If the two are joined as in (B) of the figure, forming a

single capacitor, what is the final capacitance?

1) 2C
2) C
3) C/2
Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 10
 Voltage in Circuits
• Elements are connected by wires.
• Any connected region of wire has the same
potential.
• The potential difference across an element is the
element’s “voltage.”

Vwire 1= 0 V Vwire 2= 5 V Vwire 3= 12 V Vwire 4= 15 V

C1 C2 C3

VC1= _____ V VC2= _____ V VC3= _____ V

Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 11

 Capacitors in Parallel
• Both ends connected together by wire
• Same voltage: V1 = V2 = Veq
• Share Charge: Qeq = Q1 + Q2
• Total Cap: Ceq = (Q1 + Q2)/V = C1 + C2

C1 C2 Ceq

Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 12

 Parallel Practice
A 4 mF capacitor and 6 mF capacitor are connected in parallel
and charged to 5 volts. Calculate Ceq, and the charge on
each capacitor.
Ceq = C4+C6 =
Q4 = C4 V4 =
Q6 = C6 V6 =
Qeq = Ceq Veq OR Q4 + Q6 =

5V 5V V=5V 5V
C4 C6 Ceq
0V 0V 0V

Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 13

 Capacitors in Series
• Connected end-to-end with NO other exits
• Same Charge: Q1 = Q2 = Qeq
• Share Voltage: V1+V2=Veq
1 1 1
 
Ceq C1 C2
+
+
+Q +
++
+Q
C1 +
-Q --++
+
+Q + Ceq
++
C2 -Q -
-Q - +
-+
+
+
+
Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 14
 Series Practice
A 4 mF capacitor and 6 mF capacitor are connected in series and charged to
5 volts. Calculate Ceq, and the charge on the 4 mF capacitor.
1
 1 1
Ceq    
 C 4 C6 
Q = CV
Q 4  Q6  Qeq  CeqV

+Q +
+Q
C4 +
-Q -
Ceq
+Q +
-Q -
C6
-Q -

Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 15

 Comparison:
Series vs. Parallel
Series Parallel
• Can follow a wire from • Can find a loop of wire
one element to the other containing both elements
with no branches in but no others (may have
between. branches).

C1
C1 C2
C2

Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 16

 Electromotive Force
+
• Battery
– Maintains potential difference V -
– Not constant power
– Not constant current
– Does NOT produce or supply charges, just
“pushes” them.

Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 17

 Preflight 4.4
A circuit consists of three initially uncharged capacitors
C1, C2, and C3, which are then connected to a battery of
emf E. The capacitors obtain charges q1, q2,q3, and
have voltages across their plates V1, V2, and V3.

1) q1 = q2 C2

2) q2 = q3
+q2 -q2
3) V2 = V3 + V2
E +q1 C1 +q3 C3
- V1 V3
4) E = V1 -q1 -q3

5) V1 < V2
6) Ceq > C1
Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 18
 See you next lecture!
• Read 18.4, 6, 8

Physics 102: Lecture 4, Slide 19